Christmas & NYE with Kima Surf Camps
Trade Winter for Waves
Forget cold winter mornings, a white Christmas and staying indoors!
Instead, start Christmas morning with a surf session — the perfect present from Santa. Spend the afternoon by the pool with your Kima family , then sit down to dinner with friends from around the world, sharing stories, traditions and plenty of good food. A few days later, you'll be barefoot, counting down to midnight in the tropics alongside your global community.
Spending Christmas or New Year's Eve (NYE) with Kima Surf Camps is a pretty unforgettable way to end the year. Here's what you can expect — and why this might just be the sign you need to book that trip!
Christmas in Bali
Christmas is not traditionally celebrated in Bali, as the island is predominantly Hindu however there are Christian communities who celebrate Christmas so you can expect to see decorations all around and festivities on the go.
Especially in southern Bali you may spot Penjor, these are beautiful decorated bamboo poles with plaited young coconut leaves. Christian Balinese families place them outside their homes and often wear traditional dress during Christmas celebrations.
Christmas is also a time for sharing. The tradition of Ngejot sees people sharing food with their neighbours as a gesture of gratitude, kindness and community.
So, while Christmas in Bali might look a little different from what you're used to, that's exactly what makes a tropical Christmas here such a special experience.
Christmas at Kima Bali
At Kima, Christmas is all about bringing everyone together. It's a time for sharing traditions, swapping stories and celebrating with a group of friends who quickly start to feel like family.
Start the day with a surf session, relax by the pool, explore Bali or join in with the festive activities happening around camp. From DIY Christmas crafts and festive Happy Hours to Christmas games, Secret Santa, live music and more, we do our best to bring that Christmas spirit to the tropics.
And of course, there has to be Christmas dinner! Think delicious meats, fresh salads and everything in between, all shared around a long dining table with your Kima family. It might just be your biggest — and most exciting — Christmas yet.
It may not be your traditional Christmas, but that's exactly what makes it so special.
*Activities and schedules may vary by camp and year.
Christmas in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is predominantly Buddhist, with one of the country's biggest celebrations taking place in May during Vesak . This important festival honours the life of Gautama Buddha, including his birth, enlightenment and passing away.
Christmas, however, is also a public holiday in Sri Lanka, and December brings festive lights, decorations and celebrations across the country. Spend Christmas on Sri Lanka's south coast and you can enjoy warm weather, beach days and plenty happening around the island's popular coastal towns.
It's the perfect combination of festive celebrations and tropical island life.
Christmas at Kima Sri Lanka
Christmas Day starts the Kima way: with a morning surf session. Afterwards, enjoy a delicious three-course breakfast, relax around camp, join in with games and Secret Santa, and get into the festive spirit with your fellow guests.
After your afternoon surf or yoga session, it's time for the highlight: Christmas dinner. Gather around beautifully decorated tables and enjoy a feast of traditional Sri Lankan dishes and Western Christmas favourites, followed by festive music, gift exchanges and plenty of laughs.
A Christmas with sunshine, waves and friends from around the world? One you won't forget.
*Activities and schedules may vary by camp and year.
New Year’s Eve in Bali & Sri Lanka
December 31st is New Year's Eve for much of the world, but both Bali and Sri Lanka have their own traditional New Year celebrations. In Bali, Nyepi marks the Balinese New Year, a day of silence and reflection. Sri Lanka celebrates Sinhala and Tamil New Year, or Aluth Avurudu in April.
But that doesn't mean December 31st goes unnoticed. Thanks to the international communities and travellers spending the festive season on both islands, beach clubs, restaurants and bars come alive with special events, dinners and parties.
And at Kima? We love a good New Year's Eve party. Our camps in Bali and Sri Lanka bring guests together for a big night of good food, drinks, music and plenty of dancing as everyone counts down to midnight. Add fireworks, your surf crew from around the world and the excitement of starting a brand-new year in the tropics, and you've got one seriously unforgettable NYE party.
Why Spend the Festive Season with Kima?
Christmas and New Year's Eve are some of the most exciting moments of the year. After a big year, it's a chance to slow down, treat yourself to some well-deserved rest and come together with friends and family to celebrate, share gratitude and simply enjoy being together.
And that's exactly what we love creating at Kima.
- Daily surf sessions — gift yourself more time doing what you love.
- Sunshine and tropical weather — swap winter blues for warm days and plenty of feel-good endorphins.
- Christmas celebrations and festive dinners — because the holidays are made for enjoying great food together.
- New Year's Eve celebrations with your surf crew — let loose, dance and welcome the year ahead.
- Meeting travellers from around the world — arrive as strangers and find new people to celebrate with.
- Pool days, beach days and plenty of downtime — the perfect way to reset after a big year.
- Exploring Bali or Sri Lanka — make the festive season part of a bigger adventure.
- Starting the New Year somewhere unforgettable — with waves waiting just around the corner.
The Best Christmas Gift Yet
Looking for the ultimate Christmas gift for one of the girls — or a truly special way to treat yourself?
Our Kima Women's Surf Retreats are going to the Mentawai Islands this November 2026, hosted by pro surfer Giada Legati, this is the kind of trip surfers dream about. Spend 11 nights aboard a premium private surf charter — your own floating hotel in the heart of one of the world's most legendary wave destinations.
Wake up surrounded by remote islands, chase world-class waves alongside Giada and a small group of like-minded women, then return to the comfort of Malaika for ocean-to-table dining, sunset drinks and a well-earned rest.
EXPLORE KIMA WOMEN’S SURF RETREATS
